Hamas chief warns of ‘black destiny’ for Israel

DAMASCUS, (AFP)

Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal on Friday warned Israel that a “black destiny” awaits the Jewish state if it launches a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip.

“If you commit the stupidity of launching a ground offensive then a black destiny awaits you,” Meshaal said in a pre-taped speech aired on Al-Jazeera television.

“You will soon find out that Gaza is the wrath of the God,” said Meshaal, whose Islamist Hamas movement controls the Gaza Strip which has been the target of a deadly week-long Israeli bombardment campaign.

He told the Israeli government: “You thought that the way to win the coming elections (on February 10) is via the invasion of Gaza but I tell you it is a mistake.”

If Israeli troops enter Gaza “our people will fight them from street to street,” said the Hamas leader, who lives in exile in Syria.

“I ask all the sons of the (Hamas) movement to mobilise... until the aggression is over and the blockade is lifted.”

Mass protests were held across the Middle East on Friday after Hamas called for a “Day of Wrath” against Israel as tanks and troops waited on the Gaza border where a ground offensive is expected to start within days.

A least 430 Palestinians have been killed and 2,250 others wounded, according to Gaza medics, since Israel unleashed its air and sea campaign against Hamas targets in Gaza on December 27 in retaliation for rocket attacks by Gaza militants.

Meshaal insisted that Hamas “will not surrender... (or) bow to the conditions of the enemy.”

“Our demand is clear that the aggression stops immediately, that all crossings reopen and the blockade is lifted,” he said, reiterating demands that could pave the way for a truce with Israel.

But Meshaal also said that Hamas was “ready for challenges... We are confident we will win” and he insisted that the “battle was imposed on us and we will face up to it.”

Hamas has “lost very little” of its military forces in the week-long confrontation with Israel, Meshaal added.

The Palestinian politician, whose movement has fallen out with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, accused western countries of showing favouritism towards Israel.

Addressing US president-elect Barack Obama, Meshaal said: “The start is not good.”

“You commented on Bombay but you say nothing about the crime of the enemy (Israel).

This policy of double standards should stop,” the Hamas leader said, referring to the attacks in India at the end of November which left 172 people dead.